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Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister-elect D K Shivakumar on Tuesday, June 2, said that reports circulating in the media regarding the composition of the new Cabinet were not official and that the final list of ministers would be communicated by the Congress high command after consultations. Shivakumar, who returned to Bengaluru from New Delhi along with outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after holding discussions with the Congress high command on Cabinet formation, said a final decision on the names would be taken by the party leadership. “Whatever is being reported in the media today is not official,” Shivakumar told reporters at the airport, dismissing speculation over the likely ministers in his Cabinet ahead of his swearing-in as chief minister on June 3 at the Lok Bhavan here. Shivakumar, who is the Congress state president, said the names of the ministers would be conveyed to him on Wednesday morning. “Tomorrow, after 10 am, I will receive the names,” he ...

Bengaluru : With the leadership transition in Karnataka Congress now virtually complete, attention has shifted to the formation of the new state cabinet under Chief Minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar. While the power-sharing arrangement between outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar appears to have been executed smoothly, the next major challenge before the Congress high command is striking a balance in the composition of the new ministry. For months, speculation over a leadership change had dominated Karnataka politics. However, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have publicly projected unity before and after the transition, seeking to reassure party workers and legislators that the government remains stable and united despite the change at the top. Now, the focus has turned to the crucial question of who will find a place in the new cabinet and who may be dropped from the outgoing ministry. The process has triggered intense lobbying among senior Congress leaders,...

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court, while rejecting the bail application of a 23-year-old engineering student accused of raping his classmate, made strong observations on rising crime and the need for stricter enforcement of laws. The court remarked that people often take the freedoms available in a democracy for granted and suggested that stringent punishments, similar to those seen in some Gulf nations, act as stronger deterrents against crime. Justice R Nataraj made the observations while hearing the bail plea of the accused, who has been in judicial custody since April in connection with a rape case dating back to 2023. The court declined to grant bail and posted the matter for further hearing on June 8. During the proceedings, the judge expressed concern over what he described as a growing tendency among people to commit crimes casually and repeatedly. According to the court, the existing legal framework is often not enforced firmly enough, reducing the deterrent ef...

Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and former minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has landed in fresh political trouble after an alleged audio clip linked to the Davanagere South by-election triggered a major controversy within the party. Even as intense lobbying continues for ministerial berths in the newly formed government, Congress leaders have now formally approached the party high command seeking action against him over alleged anti-party activities. KPCC General Secretary D Basavaraj and former Davanagere Mayor K Chaman Saab have submitted a complaint to the Congress high command, alleging that Zameer worked against the party during the Davanagere South by-election. In their letter, the leaders claimed that the former minister deliberately attempted to discourage minority voters from participating in the election, thereby weakening the Congress candidate’s prospects. Also Read More representation in Rajya Sabha, Assembly: Muslim orgs to Karnataka Congress The co...

Bengaluru : Traffic chaos erupted on Bengaluru’s Old Airport Road on Sunday, May 31, after vehicular movement was reportedly halted for nearly 30 minutes to facilitate the movement of the Governor’s convoy, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and triggering widespread criticism from motorists. The disruption occurred on a stretch already facing severe congestion due to ongoing underpass construction works. With traffic brought to a standstill and no effective diversion arrangements in place, long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the road, causing significant inconvenience to the public. Old Airport Road is already choking under underpass construction. Today, traffic was completely halted for nearly 30 minutes due to the Governor’s movement. A man carrying his pregnant wife was stuck in the gridlock. When will public convenience matter as much as VIP convenience? pic.twitter.com/jVCFRGFSEP — Prajval Prince (@prajvalprince) May 31, 2026 The situation...

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) successful defence of the Indian Premier League (IPL) title has drawn praise from Karnataka’s top political leaders, with Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar and outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulating the franchise on its historic achievement. RCB defeated Gujarat Titans in a thrilling IPL final on Sunday night to become champions for the second consecutive season, sparking celebrations among cricket fans across Karnataka. Amid the jubilation, Shivakumar raised concerns over the decision to stage the IPL final in Gujarat instead of Bengaluru. He alleged that Karnataka had been denied the opportunity to host the title clash despite RCB’s strong presence and fan following. “The final should have been played in Bengaluru. The state has been unfairly deprived of hosting rights. There appears to be a political angle behind the decision,” Shivakumar said while interacting with reporters. He, however, refrained from ...

Ahmedabad: It was a night dotted with chilling certainty. Royal Challengers Bengaluru translated their domination from Day 1 of this IPL into a second successive title, and Virat Kohli anchored that five-wicket romp over the Gujarat Titans with a patented chase masterclass of an unbeaten 75 here on Sunday. If the Titans’ innings of 155 for eight was filled with trepidation, Royal Challengers’ 161 for five in 18 overs was full of intent and confidence. And those words are forever entwined with Kohli’s batting, and the latest evidence was his 42-ball unbeaten innings. As he has done throughout his career, the batting superstar strode out with an unflinching desire to take his side home. That purpose was evident in his dismantling of Kagiso Rabada with a sequence of 4, 4, 6, 4, right after his opening partner Venkatesh Iyer handed the South African a similar punishment in the second over that yielded 18 runs. Kohli and Venkatesh added 62 runs in just 4.3 over...